Cycling: James keen to handle bars of Grassmarket

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 11:18

CAPITAL cyclist James McCallum has more reasons than most to relish the prospect of competing in tonight's Edinburgh Nocturne race.

The 30-year-old Commonwealth Games track medallist won the inaugural nocturne event in London two seasons ago, just weeks after landing the British Criterium title.

He has also been involved in organising tomorrow night's event and has the added incentive of performing well in front of a home audience.

"I've worked closely with the race director James Pope," McCallum explained. "I had four or five ideas for a course but the Grassmarket was the best one. It's like a little arena.

"It's going to great for me and the other local riders like Evan Oliphant, Ross Creber and my team mates at Endura." The nocturne concept involves beginning the race as darkness falls – hence the start time for the main event of 8.50pm. The riders will compete for one hour over a 1.2 kilometre circuit that ascends Victoria Street, passes along George IV Bridge and returns via Candlemaker Row to the Grassmarket where a loop will bring the competitors to the finish line. After 60 minutes of racing, they will receive the signal for five laps to go. McCallum believes the fading light should add to the excitement.

He added: "It's a really dynamic way to race. You have to keep switched on all the time. Normally if someone falls off in front of you, you can see it happening. But when it happens in the dark, it can cause all sorts of problems."

As for his own chances of victory, McCallum pointed to the criterium format – circuits around a city centre course – and the venue as major benefits, stating, "For me it's a crit , it's in Scotland and I'm desperate to do well.

"I have my gearing worked out but I'm keeping that close to my chest. I know I've been in good form for the last month or so but anything can happen."

Among the other contenders are leading Grand Tour professionals David Millar and Cameron Meyer. While McCallum expects the big guns to feature, he believes that there are many others who will fancy taking the win. The programme of races – free for spectators – gets underway at 6pm with a series of support events for youths and seniors before reaching what promises to be an engrossing climax with the main contest.

&#149 A BUSY weekend for cycling enthusiasts in the Capital will conclude tomorrow when the kids club Edinburgh Racers host a round of the British Cycling Youth Omnium at Meadowbank Velodrome. A host of local riders will be out in force against rivals from clubs around Scotland and the North of England.

Many of the same competitors will also be in action tomorrow when the Dundee Discovery Juniors Omnium competition takes place at Caird Park.

Meanwhile, Scottish Cycling officials have announced their findings after an investigation into the timing blunder that blighted the recent Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championships in Glasgow. The first two places remain unaltered meaning that Jessica Wilson-Young (Edinburgh RC) has been confirmed as champion. And, with her team-mate Claire Thomas awarded fourth spot, the Capital club have clinched the team prize.